Vero V and clarification connection of Remote

Hi and please forgive me for asking the dumb question but do I need the USB dongle on the Vero V.
I ask because I cannot get on with the Vero V out of the box. The remote only works if I stand close to the device and the response when browsing directories and files is so slow and hesitant that I do not know whether the command has been received from the remote and is just taking a long time or if the remote signal has been lost altogether.
This does not happen with my other two Vero devices which do have a dongle but which still work well in spite of being eol.
Could I have been unlucky and received a faulty device?
Budgie.

No, you shouldn’t need an external receiver.

Maybe you have some equipment nearby causing interference?